So, the first (and maybe biggest) '08 primary is tonight.

[WilliamPitt]

Wha?

Yup.

See, before ideas and the ability to articulate them, before policies and the will to pursue them, before any power to uplift, inspire or invigorate, comes cash money and the ability to raise it.

And no, I am not slamming Senators Clinton and/or Obama. They are forced to run by the rules as they stand, and the rules say "The squeezin' green is the alpha and omega in this phenomenon we call American democracy.

Yep. Tonight is the first primary. Should be interesting to see the numbers when they come.

Clinton Camp Turns to a Star in Money Race
By PATRICK HEALY
Published: March 31, 2007

Concerned about Senator Barack Obama’s presidential fund-raising, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign has dispatched former President Bill Clinton to attend 16 fund-raisers in the last six weeks and to lead conference calls and Internet appeals to donors, in some cases assessing Mr. Obama’s positions on Iraq.

Democrats close to the couple say that Mr. Clinton’s efforts on his wife’s behalf were just beginning and that they were likely to accelerate after he finishes writing a book this spring. Several donors said that Mr. Clinton’s role was even greater than they originally expected after Mrs. Clinton announced her candidacy on Jan. 20.

The early deployment of Mr. Clinton highlights the continuing concerns in the Clinton camp about the strength of Mr. Obama’s candidacy and his fund-raising prowess. The Clinton camp has tried to stop any drift of Democratic donors to the Obama camp, since the campaign finance reporting period ending tonight is seen as a huge test of the campaigns’ money-raising abilities as they gird for a crush of early primaries.

(snip)

Still, John Catsimatidis, a New York fund-raiser who held an event at his apartment with Mr. Clinton on March 3, recalled that at a meeting of fund-raisers in Manhattan soon after Senator Clinton’s announcement, the former president came up briefly in conversation and was not a focus of the fund-raising strategy. But his recent burst of money-raising tells a different story.

“It’s a lot more than anyone expected two months ago,” Mr. Catsimatidis said. “President Clinton is a competitive guy, and he has said himself that the March 31 fund-raising deadline was the first primary.”

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/31/us/politics/31clinton.html?hp

[IndyOp]

1. It will be interesting and scary.

I think we all know that Hillary Clinton will come in on top and I can't imagine a Democrat in the field who is less deserving that H.C.

While I feel hopeful about lots of current events - especially the ongoing investigations - I despair at seeing that, once again, our Presidential candidate (and thus President) is going to be picked for us by people who have $$ to toss to candidates who will serve their entrenched (materialistic, militaristic) interests.

:(

Thanks for the reminder. I've gotta go make a donation now...

[Carolina]

6. I feel your dismay

since I, too, despair 'that Hillary Clinton will come in on top and I can't imagine a Democrat in the field who is less deserving that H.C."

The money and machine and alleged electability (by some) will give us a nominee (HRC) who will lose the general election and drag other Dems down with her. Then this nation will really be toast.

[Skinner]

9. What, exactly, is your definition of "deserving"?

I certainly understand that people like different candidates for different reasons, but I think that it is hard to argue that Hillary Clinton is somehow less "deserving" of success. She has been in the public eye for a decade and a half. She has taken more attacks from Republicans (and Democrats) than all the other candidates combined. She has paid her dues. She is the first woman to ever be taken seriously as a presidential candidate. In short: She has earned her spot at the table.

People can certainly disagree with whether she is the best candidate in the race. But I find it hard to accept the notion that she is any less "deserving" than any other candidate.

[IndyOp]

11. My "deserving" comment wasn't primarily about dues paid -

I mostly meant "deserving" in terms of the policies I support. I am anti-war and Hillary has said that we should not take the option of military action on Iran "off the table" and that we may need to keep permanent bases in Iraq. If elected, she will maintain the empire. I want someone who can really pull us out of our long, horrifically destructive quest for global hegemony: Maintaining control of the Middle East with violence to earn profits from burning fossil fuels that are destroying our environment.

As for other aspects of "deserving" - long-lasting and willing to work hard to win - long-lasting doesn't mean anything if you aren't accomplishing tremendous good along the way and willing to work hard to win - if that means raising big money - is a personal negative. I don't believe that getting big money for your campaign to become Senator so that you can say you have paid your dues, so that you can raise big money to become President indicates that you deserve to be President. In fact, it may illustrate the exact opposite.

Gandhi often warned that the reason we should never use violence to accomplish social change is because the type of person who rises to leadership status in violence is exactly the wrong person to govern.

Hillary is where she is because she is getting the support of a few powerful people with $$$$. If we had campaign finance reform, and private funds could not be used for campaigns, in my opinion, Hillary would not be at the table. Candidates who raise the most money are the ones who are least likely to end our global push for hegemony. Money = win. Money = power. Money = moral poison.

The reason people don't take Dennis Kucinich seriously -- because he won't do "what it takes" to raise the big $$ is exactly the reason he should be President.

[blm]

12. She deserves exactly the same amount of effort and support that she has given

other Dem candidates and nominees, and on serious Dem party issues.


Tora Bora. Firing Rumsfeld after Abu Ghraib. Swiftliars. Supporting Dem nominee's position on Iraq more than Bush's. Downing Street Memos. Alito filibuster. Last June's Iraq withdrawal. Support for Dem candidate in Connecticut.


How did Hillary do? Did she back up other Dems or lead any of those issues?

She deserves as much as she has given to other Dems.

That should be a fair call.

The Clintons made a choice in 2001 to stick close to the Bush family and to not oppose them in any outward, PUBLIC way, and instead very publically supported Bush on his military strategies on terrorism and the Iraq war decision.

Big difference from all those Dems in congress working hard to oppose Bush1 and expose his crimes of office in the years before the 1992 election cycle, and to the benefit of the nominee at the time.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. '...the alpha and omega in this phenomenon we call American democracy.'

That hits the nail squarely on the head. I'm certainly no authority when it comes to campaign fundraising, but this line leaves me wondering...

“It’s a lot more than anyone expected two months ago,” Mr. Catsimatidis said. “President Clinton is a competitive guy, and he has said himself that the March 31 fund-raising deadline was the first primary.”

Is this an accurate assessment of the cutoff date for heavyweight fundraising or just an arbitrary date pulled from nether regions? Is it a psychological ploy to intimidate the competition?

[NoPasaran]

10. Candidates have to file quarterly statements with the FEC

So that's where the date comes from. Calling it the "first primary", well that's kind of a psychological ploy, especially if you're leading.

[Robbien]

3. Funny, a political system which needs tons of money to keep going

makes it a rule that the best candidates are the candidates who bring in the most cash to hand over to that political system.

Of course the media pushes the idea of big campaign coffers. Why shouldn't they. A huge chunk of that money will be turned over to the media.

[radfringe]

4. When money talks - politics walk

[trof]

5. The Teevee industry has 'special' rates for political ads.

And it's higher than for regular consumer type commercials.
It's a gold mine for them.

[sendero]

7. Well...

... I guess we'll see once and for all if you can buy the white house. Because that's the only way HRC is going to get there.

[mod mom]

8. Do people really watch tv any more? I realize there is a need for money but

my hope is with the emergence of youtube and the desire of the people to want big money OUT, a more populace candidate (like Dean before the media and Dem elite dethroned him after the "scream") would have a good chance these days. Big money equates to big corruption for a lot of folks.